I have an iPhone with Stanza and Windows 7 with Calibre installed. In the iPhone copy of Stanza I can manually type in the computer ip address and port in the Shared > Book Sources area and access the Calibre library on the iPhone, but Stanza's 'Computer Sharing books can't find it.

Any ideas on how to get the Computer Sharing Books to automatically find it so if my IP address changes I don't have to change the setting for Calibre in Book Sources?

I am in the interesting situation where my iphone can see the content server (usually), but my ipad can't (although it has been able to in the past)! I can have the two sitting side by side on my desk, but they act very differently.

That would probably be due to a recent change in configuration and/or software you made. Can you access other network resources with the iPad? Check to see if the network and software (browser/reading software) configuration are the same on iPad and iPhone.
Also, needs more details. Are you connecting through your local network or is the content server visible on the WAN? What software are you using to connect to the content server?

I'm not sure I always understand what you are asking me, Manichean, but I'll try to answer you.

When I am at home, I access the net through our house wifi. I pick up my signal wirelessly from the router in the room next door. This is true of both my iphone and ipad.

My ipad is working perfectly in all other respects and I regularly browse the net, accessing websites and downloading.

I am not sure what I am checking to see if the network and software configurations are the same?

I don't really understand how I know whether I am connecting through the local netowrk or content server. I thought this was automatic via the wireless.

Sorry to be so vague - this is a problem I suspect many non-technically minded have. When I follow instructions and things work, it's fine. If I don't get the expected response to instructions, I don't understand the systems and therefore can't apply logic for a solution.

I suddenly managed to connect to the server via Stanza on my ipad this evening (I've not been able to connect for several weeks) - and then lost the connection again. I stopped and restarted the server in Calibre. This does not always work, but tonight it has.

Tonight I can reach the server by using its address - but this is not always reliable either.

However in my experience you get a far more reliable connection from Stanza if you use the IP address:Port of the computer running the Calibre Content server rather than relying on Bonjour to locate it.

I'm having the same problem, but I'm just a reader and not a techie. I've spent 5 hours getting my books on calibre and now I can get them to itunes and to iread, but not to stanza. I've tried everything I can find on the forums. When I got to get books and "shared", calibre is listed., It finds my home computer and when I click on that it says "catalog error The request timed out". I've spent another 4 hours trying to get access to my calibre books via stanza. Does anyone have something in "English" not "computerese" that can help me? Thanks.
mexicoblue